First Cut

On Windows PC, First Cut offers a free action fighting experience from indie creator Drasnus. You step into the sandals of a samurai for tightly focused one on one duels rendered in chunky pixel art and splashes of gore. It suits players who enjoy precise, timing based swordplay and a strong Japanese aesthetic, whether they prefer solo challenges or local matches with a friend.

Deliberate duels with a realistic edge

At its heart, First Cut is a samurai dueling game that aims for a grounded feel. Every match plays out as a one on one confrontation, whether you square off against the AI or another person sitting beside you. The action can look over the top because of the blood effects, yet the rules behind it stay rooted in realism, which makes each exchange feel tense and convincing.

Your move set is intentionally limited but thoughtful. You have a horizontal slice and two vertical strikes that target high and low. Holding an attack button lets you charge a blow and delay its release, which can disrupt your opponent's sense of timing. Defense revolves around inputting a block in the same direction as an incoming cut, and following that with an immediate strike turns a simple guard into a satisfying counter.

You can also duck or sidestep to avoid danger outright, or shove an opponent to knock them off balance and open a brief window for a quick follow up. Every action contributes to fatigue, so constant flurries slow your swings unless you pause to recover. That extra layer forces you to weigh aggression against patience, instead of simply mashing out attacks.

Taken together, these inputs keep the controls straightforward while still allowing different approaches. You can favor cautious blocking and counters, or lean on pressure, shoves and delayed attacks to break someone's rhythm. That mix lines up with the description of the combat as deceptively simple yet surprisingly flexible.

Pixel art, Japanese flavor, and visceral effects

First Cut draws heavily from Japanese culture for its overall look and tone, similar in spirit to stylish action titles like Katana ZERO or Samurai Gunn 2. Battles play out in retro style pixel art, with character sprites and arenas that feel distinct from one another. The contrast between that nostalgic presentation and the rather violent, gory effects gives every strike a harsh impact.

You fight across a range of backdrops, from open fields to traditional dojos and even beneath a waterfall. Each setting subtly changes the mood of a duel, whether you are clashing blades in a quiet training hall or cutting through an opponent in the open air. For a prototype, the variety of locations and character designs already does a lot to keep repeat matches visually interesting.

Play alone or share the same screen

The game supports both solo play and local multiplayer. You can test your timing against computer controlled opponents or invite someone to duel you on the same machine. Because of how quickly a single mistake can turn into a counter or a punishing blow, matches tend to feel tense and personal, especially when you are trading victories with a friend.

This structure also helps highlight the flexibility of the combat system. In solo play you can experiment with different tactics and learn how fatigue affects your rhythm. In local multiplayer, those same systems become mind games as each player tries to bait a mistimed block, sneak in a shove, or surprise the other with a charged strike.

Prototype build and premium edition

This release is identified as a prototype, yet it already comes across as more polished than that label might suggest. The art, animations and core combat system feel cohesive, rather than like a rough proof of concept.

If you want more, there is also a premium version, which is described as the branch that receives regular updates and improvements. For curious players, that makes the free build a practical way to see whether the methodical duels and brutal presentation appeal to you before considering the paid option. The flip side is that some may feel this edition is less complete than the premium one, especially knowing that new tweaks and changes focus on the other branch.

Verdict

For fans of samurai themed action, First Cut is easy to recommend. Its mix of grounded sword mechanics, fatigue driven pacing and exaggerated gore makes each duel feel both cerebral and brutal. The narrow focus on one on one fights and the ongoing prototype status may limit its long term pull for some players, yet as a free, polished slice of what the developer is building, it stands out as a sharp little showcase that invites you to explore the fuller premium version.